FROM THIS EPISODE

In the aftermath of Barack Obama's re-election, Republicans are a divided party—but they know it's time for a change. Will outreach to new demographic groups mean alienating the base on core issues? Will they use their control over 30 states to set new policies or re-write the rules for presidential elections? Also, clashes and protests continue in Cairo, and poor sleep may be the key to memory loss in older people. The problem may be treatable.

Banner image: Photos from the May 1st march/rally for immigration reform. Photo by Justin Valas

Yesterday, President Mohammed Morsi declared a state of emergency and a curfew in three major Egyptian cities, but protests that began on Friday are still continuing. Tarek El-Tablawy is Cairo Bureau Chief for Bloomberg.

Barack Obama's second victory showed Republicans that the nation is changing, and that's led to an agonizing reappraisal. They're agreed on the need to reach out to Hispanics, women, blacks and Asians, but are divided on how that should be done. Rethinking core policies could alienate one or more party factions. Re-writing election rules could look like rigging the system. Will the emphasis change on immigration, big business, foreign policy and social issues? Will they look to the states, rather than Washington?

Wisdom may come with age, but so does the loss of sleep — and the loss of memory. New research shows that poor sleep may be the culprit and that treatment may be on the way. Researchers believe that deep sleep can be restored, along with memory itself. Matthew Walker is professor of psychology and neuroscience at the University of California, Berkeley. His study was published yesterday in the journal Nature Neuroscience.